Ufone employees to participate in GSMA mHealth Grand Tour 2013

Karachi: Ufone is featuring its team in the inaugural GSMA mHealth Grand Tour for diabetes awareness initiated by the Etisalat Group.

This is the first of its kind activity in the health sector being staged at an international platform which has been initiated by a cellular operator, let alone cellular group.

A total of eight staff members including the Ufone team, officials of the Group and members from various OpCos will be selected to participate in a once in a lifetime, 2,100km, four country European expedition cycling from Brussels to Barcelona.

Two participants from Ufone have been shortlisted to be sent to Abu Dhabi for further fitness tests – if chosen; one of them becomes part of the team of 8 to compete in Brussels.

The tour will take place between September 518, 2013 and each participant will ride for three days from Brussels through Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, France, and Northern Spain on to Barcelona.

Syed Zulfiqar Ali Zaidi, GM Human Resources Ufone said that “employee engagement through social activities has always been of a matter of pride for Ufone. Etisalat’s participation in the GSMA mHealth awareness cycling tour 2013 provided our employees with yet another exciting chance of becoming part of a worthwhile cause and at the same time feel part of a bigger Etisalat Global Community.”

Pakistan ranks amongst countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes, with Sudan and several Sub-Saharan African countries also suffering from this disease.

Shahnawaz Khan, a participant and Ufone staff member said, “I feel immensely privileged to be shortlisted for GSMA mHealth Grand Tour. It’s a great honour to represent Ufone and I will strive to do my best to get selected. I believe it’s an excellent initiative and Etisalat as well as other participating mobile operators deserve appreciation. I am really excited and looking forward to this journey to become part of the fight against the menace of diabetes.”

“Opportunities like these are rare. I’ve been an adventurous person throughout my life and love taking challenges, as they say the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Ufone has proved once again that it is focused towards employee engagement and development even at an international level event. Being a part of this cause means a lot to me. It is a matter of great pride for me to represent Ufone and my country,” Raza Aijaz Akram, another participant and Ufone official said.